The KD8, eight edition of Kevin Durant’s Nike signature model, could be nicknamed as “the shoe of the rebirth”. After his troubled 2014-15 NBA season, “Easymoneysniper” is preparing to face a new year, leaving behind his personal issues and the ones of his team, the OKC Thunder.

The aggressive design of these KD8 comes from their inspiration: the sabertooth tiger that Durant has tattooed on his right calf. An open reference to the prehistoric feline is on the heel counter, where the two supports, extensions of the already high midsole, recall its fangs. The upper is made of Flyweave, a textile material that wraps nicely around the foot without giving up on support, enriched by the ever-present Dynamic Flywire. Cushioning is provided by a full-length Zoom Air unit which, for the first time in a basketball shoe, is shaped to follow the foot form in some critical points where the mechanical stress is higher, in order to better support its movements. On the sole we find a fishbone pattern that recalls the Flyweave one and, most of all, provides maximum grip on the hardwood.

As happened last year, KD’s signature model is the first one to debut on the market: the “4th of July” colorway will be released for the upcoming Independence Day, while the flashy “V8”, inspired by Kevin’s custom Chevy Camaro, will be out on July 11th.

KD’s shoes are always able to raise contrasting opinions among players and simple fans, divided between lovers and haters: we feel that also the KD8 won’t avoid this kind of feedback. What do you think? Which side are you going to take?